Federal authorities in Washington, D.C. have intensified efforts to ensure that sex offenders residing in the District comply with registration laws. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, in collaboration with the United States Marshals Service (USMS), recently conducted a city-wide operation targeting non-compliant sex offenders.
According to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and USMS Director Gadyaces S. Serralta, federal agents performed compliance checks on 883 sex offenders. The operation resulted in the identification, arrest, and prosecution of 25 individuals who failed to register as required by law. Of those arrested, nine were classified as “Class A” offenders, having been convicted of either particularly serious sexual assaults or offenses involving multiple victims.
“This effort is an essential part of ensuring public safety in D.C.,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The sex offender registry is a vital tool that protects communities, ensures accountability and prevents further victimization. Once convicted, sex offenders who fail to register or fail to update their information, put vulnerable populations at risk. My office, along with the U.S. Marshals Service, will continue to root out, arrest, and prosecute all sex offenders who fail to register in the District.”
The Supreme Court has previously acknowledged the significant risk of repeat offenses among sex offenders, as noted in Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 103 (2003).
Since August 24, the USMS and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) have been actively pursuing offenders who are not in compliance. The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section, as well as the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Section, are handling the prosecutions.
The operation focuses on identifying sex offenders required to register with CSOSA, investigating those out of compliance, and prosecuting those who evade registration. The initiative has been designated a high priority, with significant resources allocated. The USMS assigned 28 Deputy U.S. Marshals from across the country, and CSOSA contributed 16 Community Supervision Officers and two Sex Offender Registry Specialists.
As of October 15, authorities have obtained 30 Superior Court Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) arrest warrants, including 27 for misdemeanors and three for felonies. Twenty-four sex offenders have been arrested and charged with SORA violations, and one individual has been indicted for a felony violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The operation also involved dedicated personnel from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including two supervisors, a senior warrant reviewer, and several Assistant U.S. Attorneys from both the Superior Court and Criminal Division.
The collaborative approach between federal agencies aims to enhance community safety by enforcing compliance among registered sex offenders in Washington, D.C.
